Stay at a Haunted Barn Airbnb in the Catskills This Fall

Planning a spooky road trip in the mountains this season? This haunted barn Airbnb is right on theme for Halloween.

If you haven’t already heard, the Hudson Valley is a pretty weird place when it comes to all things aliens, monsters, and ghosts. While you’re off exploring the area’s haunted history and storied destinations, book a stay at this Capital Region Airbnb for a lodging experience unlike anything else. Although the haunted barn rental is just outside of Albany County in Broome, it’s in a prime location to catch the changing fall foliage in the Catskills before you embark on a haunted tour of the New York State Capitol Building.

haunted barn

Enter into the eerie countryside to stay at the haunted barn for a thrilling, off-the-grid glamping experience. The rustic rental may look unsuspecting during the day, but the whole structure transforms into an otherworldly space after dark, with a red-illuminated interior, macabre decorations, and twisting vines in the rafters.

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Elena and Stephen Pellicano — the husband-wife duo behind the haunted barn Airbnb — stumbled upon the idea to transform the rental for Halloween after hosting a guest who caught a spooky vibe during her stay. After the guest mentioned that the location would be the perfect place for a haunted horror experience, Stephen turned it into just that for the harvest season. Set against a secluded woodland backdrop, the barn is decked out with authentic items like chains, axes, pitchforks, and scythes from the property’s days as a working farm to add to the experience.

Even though the Preston-Potter Hollow-based couple got their start with hosting on Airbnb in 2009, they only more recently joined the experiential hosting community after seeing a growing trend in themed short-term rentals.

haunted barn

“Many people spend their lives watching horror films but never get the chance to experience that thrill in real life,” says Stephen. “I want my guests to feel like they’re stepping into a real-life scary movie, something that will linger with them in a memorable way—an exciting thrill that lasts long after their stay, but in a fun, positive sense.”

Although it’s probably the most alluring, the haunted barn Airbnb is not the only themed rental in the couple’s wide portfolio. With listings across the Catskill Mountains and Albany County, guests can choose to stay in rustic barns, A-frame cabins, or even a Cat in the Hat-themed tiny home that’s modeled after the house in the Dr. Seuss book.

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So, how do the Pellicanos bring their ideas to life? While Stephen doesn’t have a background in interior design, he studied art at Binghamton University, during which time he built theater sets as a member of the school’s drama department. Now, he applies his sense of visual storytelling to his rental spaces to provide fun and memorable guest experiences.

While the haunted barn Airbnb is only seasonal, the Pellicanos are already planning a new outer space experience at one of their rentals, complete with a Star Wars-inspired structure and a clear view of the night sky sans light pollution for the perfect cosmic escape.

Related: Bluebird Hunter Lodge Is an All-Seasons Escape in the Catskills

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